Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 22:23     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:I would happily help a friend with this. I also scheduled mine for a Monday since I can’t focus when hungry.

Some providers let people with early morning appointments leave on their own later in the day.

This article talks about what a hurdle this can be and how it may not always be necessary

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/health/medical-escorts-seniors.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share


That’s an excellent article. Thanks for sharing. I thought the passages about liability fears were particularly interesting. I had a colonoscopy done overseas and no one required that I have an escort to go home, nor did they dictate that I couldn’t go by taxi, so I just got into a taxi and left without any problems. But it was a far less litigious country…


Though liability fears clearly play a role, “how safe do we have to be?” he asked. He specializes in cataract surgery, which also often involves intravenous anesthesia. After the operation, “if there’s a one-in-a-million chance that someone falls and breaks a hip, should everybody have to have someone take them home?”


Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 22:15     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Cologuard
\\


No.....it doesn't detect polyps. It's so easy to get a polyp removed during a colonoscopy. The last thing you want is for one to grow. If it's benign it can still require surgery if it gets too big and some turn into cancer. Once you get through the prep, you get the best nap ever and then it's over.


There is zero history of colon cancer in my entire extended bio family and my physician is fine with me doing Cologuard screening, which I’ve now done twice.

There are some very serious complications that can occur from colonoscopy - they aren’t common, but tell that to the folks who suffer a perforated bowel, sepsis and death. Oh wait, you can’t tell them. I see no reason to have an unnecessary colonoscopy when my very good GP is comfortable with me not having one. Beyond that I participate in the Cologuard data study with the Mayo Clinic, so I’m well aware of the voluminous data on the efficacy of the screening and feel very comfortable trusting my health to this screening plan.

I will never have a colonoscopy unless it’s awake/unsedated, so I can communicate to the gastroenterologist any pain s/he’s inflicting - especially because I’ve had a prior open abdominal surgery and have adhesions.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 22:08     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
I would happily help a friend with this. I also scheduled mine for a Monday since I can’t focus when hungry.

Some providers let people with early morning appointments leave on their own later in the day.

This article talks about what a hurdle this can be and how it may not always be necessary

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/health/medical-escorts-seniors.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 21:38     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:Places have gone all #covidisover in DC. DH and I had 3 endoscopies between us this year and the waiting room was open to accompanying people. No masks on most of staff except in procedure room.


Yeah and its making some of us miss our appointments!!!
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 20:30     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:A friend of mine was hired by a woman who she sometimes dog sits for to pick her up her colonoscopy and drive her home.

so she picks up poop...and picks up after poop!

Sorry, just bringing some levity to the convo
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 19:53     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.


This is so fake I don’t even know where to start. Especially post-Covid, they don’t want the patient’s support people around more than absolutely needed. My husband had a colonoscopy in 2024 at Inova Alexandria and I dropped him off and picked him up from the car, I didn’t get out at all. The staff handled everything and brought him out to the car drop-off area when he was done. I could have been an Uber for all they knew. I had outpatient surgery at Inova Fairfax last year and it was the same thing. My husband came in with me and got me signed in then left to get some work done at home. When I was finally done, he came and picked me up, again, outside (didn’t even need to come in) - the nurse brought me outside to the car pickup area and we even got my prescriptions from someone bringing them out to the car.

OP no one is going to see you nude other than the doctors/nurses. Lots of people have their parents or adult children bring them for procedures or a friend or neighbor.


My experience was the same ...DH was just my driver. He did not go past the waiting room. I did not need any help walking to the car.


My boss took me to the hospital in 2014 when I thought I was going into preterm labor at work (#embarrassing) (but I did in fact deliver early, just not that exact day LOL). Did she help me get into the hospital gown in triage?? F no.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 19:40     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
They ask their friends. I've been the driver on more than one occasion, even for married people whose spouses could not take off work.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 19:39     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.


This is so fake I don’t even know where to start. Especially post-Covid, they don’t want the patient’s support people around more than absolutely needed. My husband had a colonoscopy in 2024 at Inova Alexandria and I dropped him off and picked him up from the car, I didn’t get out at all. The staff handled everything and brought him out to the car drop-off area when he was done. I could have been an Uber for all they knew. I had outpatient surgery at Inova Fairfax last year and it was the same thing. My husband came in with me and got me signed in then left to get some work done at home. When I was finally done, he came and picked me up, again, outside (didn’t even need to come in) - the nurse brought me outside to the car pickup area and we even got my prescriptions from someone bringing them out to the car.

OP no one is going to see you nude other than the doctors/nurses. Lots of people have their parents or adult children bring them for procedures or a friend or neighbor.


My experience was the same ...DH was just my driver. He did not go past the waiting room. I did not need any help walking to the car.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 19:29     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Places have gone all #covidisover in DC. DH and I had 3 endoscopies between us this year and the waiting room was open to accompanying people. No masks on most of staff except in procedure room.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 18:56     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.


This is so fake I don’t even know where to start. Especially post-Covid, they don’t want the patient’s support people around more than absolutely needed. My husband had a colonoscopy in 2024 at Inova Alexandria and I dropped him off and picked him up from the car, I didn’t get out at all. The staff handled everything and brought him out to the car drop-off area when he was done. I could have been an Uber for all they knew. I had outpatient surgery at Inova Fairfax last year and it was the same thing. My husband came in with me and got me signed in then left to get some work done at home. When I was finally done, he came and picked me up, again, outside (didn’t even need to come in) - the nurse brought me outside to the car pickup area and we even got my prescriptions from someone bringing them out to the car.

OP no one is going to see you nude other than the doctors/nurses. Lots of people have their parents or adult children bring them for procedures or a friend or neighbor.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:04     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was perfectly willing to book a medical transport (I think it was about double the price of a regular taxi) but my sweet neighbor insisted on driving me and was happy to leave her husband to deal with the kids & morning routine [HAHAHA].

Fasting: oh yeah it's awful. I took the fasting day off (or worked from home--can't remember) but definitely spared my colleagues the hangriness. I took the procedure day off too though honestly it was a very early appointment and I could've been at work fine by 9am.


Do you think this makes OP feel better. You are so special someone insisted on changing up the morning routine, having her husband leave later for work so she could be there for you and so you need to let OP know this when her neighbor may not be able to do this? It's lovely your neighbor did that/ Do you also brag about other kind things people do for you to those who don't have people looking out for them that way?


Calm down. There are medical transport services that exist, and they are common in the DMV area, if that's where OP is posting from. People use them even if they have family. And again, a colonoscopy is not the most debilitating medical procedure--not for everyone. I sat in the waiting room until I felt steady on my feet, and then took a taxi home.


NP. They really aren't. I used medical transport easily in another city but have not been able to find one in the DMV, and the medical provider was no help. I have had a few colonoscopies in DC near where I work, so I have a coworker come sign me out but then they go back to work and I head home (I've taken both Uber and Metro). Terrible idea but I have done it multiple times. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that.

OP try care.com (good suggestion that I never tried) or post on your local community FB group. Those posts are frequent around me, including one posted last week for later this month.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 13:53     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
I’m always offer to drive whenever a friend has one. You don’t not eat the day before you just eat clear liquids.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 13:51     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was perfectly willing to book a medical transport (I think it was about double the price of a regular taxi) but my sweet neighbor insisted on driving me and was happy to leave her husband to deal with the kids & morning routine [HAHAHA].

Fasting: oh yeah it's awful. I took the fasting day off (or worked from home--can't remember) but definitely spared my colleagues the hangriness. I took the procedure day off too though honestly it was a very early appointment and I could've been at work fine by 9am.


Do you think this makes OP feel better. You are so special someone insisted on changing up the morning routine, having her husband leave later for work so she could be there for you and so you need to let OP know this when her neighbor may not be able to do this? It's lovely your neighbor did that/ Do you also brag about other kind things people do for you to those who don't have people looking out for them that way?


Calm down. There are medical transport services that exist, and they are common in the DMV area, if that's where OP is posting from. People use them even if they have family. And again, a colonoscopy is not the most debilitating medical procedure--not for everyone. I sat in the waiting room until I felt steady on my feet, and then took a taxi home.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 12:59     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
I haven’t read all the responses but try Care.com. I was able to find someone to drive my adult DS to appointments after a surgery when he needed more help than what an Uber could provide - getting in and out of the car, getting up to the medical office. They have all levels of service and in the city where DS lives, there was a lot of people who do transportation.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 12:15     Subject: How do single people do colonoscopes?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m single and asked a friend. I did it on a Monday so prep was on a Sunday but it was fine, I could have worked the day before. Don’t you have friends?


I live in a major city and while I have friends, none of us have cars. Not everyone lives in the suburbs and drives everywhere.


Places care that you are not taxiing or ubering alone. They want an escort.
So friend or hired aide shows up, waits with you, escorts you out. At curb they hail a ride and go with you. No car ownership involved.